Self-centering rolls



Sept. 26, 1961 M. J. CARROLL EI'AL 3,001,682

SELF-CENTERING ROLLS Filed Oct. 21, 1959 I I Q I l l j W 1 INVENTORS MART/IV J. CARROLL and EDWIN 7T LOR/G Af/amev United States Patent 3,001,682 SELF-CENTERING ROLLS Martin J. Carroll, Ben Avon Heights, and Edwin T. Lorig, Ross Township, Allegheny County, Pa., assignors to United States Steel Corporation, a corporation of New Filed Oct. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 847,792 4 Claims. (Cl. 226-492) This invention relates to self-centering rolls and more particularly to rolls of the type shown in Loring Patent No. 2,817,940, dated December 31, 1957. Rolls of this type are used for handling wide short belts and wide strip and are made in three sections. When handling heavy loads, especially at high speeds, the center section will become deformed so that the accuracy of the centering action is somewhat impaired. This is especially true with very long rolls.

It is therefore an object of our invention to provide a self-centering roll for handling wide material under heavy load and/or at high speeds.

This and other objects will be more apparent after referring to the following specification and attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view showing the preferred embodiment of our invention over no load static conditions;

FIGURE 2 is a view, partly in section, showing a second embodiment of our invention; and

FIGURE 3 is a view, partly in section, showing a third embodiment of our invention.

Referring more particularly to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, reference numeral 2 indicates a shaft which is rotatably mounted on spaced apart bearings 4. The shaft 2 may be provided with an extension 6 beyond one of the bearings 4 so that the roll may be driven if desired. A roll section 8 is keyed or otherwise attached to the shaft 2 adjacent each of the bearings 4. Each of the roll sections 8 consists of a hub 10, web 12 and an object supporting ring 14. A center roll section 16 is provided between the roll sections 8. The object supporting surfaces 14 may be either cylindrical, frusto-conical in either direction, or slightly concave. However, when the large diameter end is adjacent the free end of rim 14 the amount of taper must be very slight. In any case the variance in diameter is only a matter of a few thousandths of an inch so that the strip supporting surface is substantially cylindrical. Object supporting surface 18 of section 16 is substantially cylindrical. The unsupported end of each of the roll sections 8 has a reduced diameter portion 20 for receiving a closely fitted counterbored portion 22 of the center section 16. The parts so far described are the same as in the above mentioned patent.

We have found that the section 16 will function properly and have improved centering ability under high loads and heavy speeds if a thin support web 24 is welded to the shaft 2 and to the section 16 at the center thereof. When the roll rotates under load and unequal loads are applied to the end sections 8 the web 24 will flex and permit the roll section 16 to function in much the same manner as in the patented roll.

In the embodiment of our invention shown in FIG- URE 2 the construction is the same as that of the roll of FIGURE 1 except that a support web 26 is provided in place of the web 24. The web 26 is welded to the shaft 2 and is provided with a rounded periphery 28 which is not attached to the section 16. The surface 28 is pref- 3,001,682 Patented Sept. 26, 1961 "ice erably highly polished so as to reduce any friction which might develop between the surface 28 and the inner surface of section 16. In this embodiment it is preferred that the shaft 2 rotate, but the roll will function if the parts are mounted for free rotation with the shaft 2 being stationary. In this embodiment there will be some sliding movement between the surface 28 and the inner surface of the section 16 as the section 16 rotates under load.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3 a straight shaft 30 is supported in bearings 32 and a cylindrical center roll section 34 is supported between end sections 36. Each of the end sections 36 has a cylindrical belt or strip supporting surface 38. The internal surface of the section 36 is provided with a shoulder 40 for receiving in abutting relationship an outer race 42 for ball bearings 44. An inner race 46 surrounds the shaft 30 and is held against a shoulder 47 on the shaft 30 by means of a collar 48 which is held in place by a set screw 50. The connection between the parts 34 and 36 is the same as in the other embodiments. If desired a pin may be provided between the ends of sections 34 and 36 to positively drive them at the same angular velocity. The roll so far described is similar to the one shown in FIGURE 7 of the above mentioned patent. We provide a roller bearing 52 at the transverse center of section 34. The bearing 52 has an outer race 54 and an inner race 56. The inner race 54 is preferably held in position on the shaft 30 between two collars 58 similar to collar 48. In this embodiment the shaft 30 does not rotate.

While several embodiments of our invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. A roll for centering and aligning strip comprising a straight shaft, a pair of spaced apart rotatable end sections mounted on said shaft, each of said end sections including a rim and a web extending from said shaft to the end of said rim toward the adjacent end of said shaft, said web being relatively non-compressible in a radial direction and the end of said rim remote from said web being free to deflect toward said shaft so that said sections under load rotate on axes that diverge away from the direction of strip approach, an intermediate rotatable rim section extending between and supported by the rims of said end sections, and means at the center of said intermediate rim section extending radially between said shaft and the inner periphery of said intermediate rim section.

2. A roll according to claim 1 in which said last named means includes a thin flexible web attached to said shaft and said intermediate rim section.

3. A roll according to claim 1 in which said last named means includes a web attached to said shaft with its outer end being reduced in thickness to permit relative movement between said web and intermediate rim section.

4. A roll according to claim 1 in which said last named means includes a roller bearing having its inner race secured to said shaft and its outer race bearing against said intermediate rim section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 779,666 Robins Jan. 10, 1905 909,833 Vrooman Jan. 12, 1909 2,262,325 Kendall Nov. 11, 1941 

